Published: Tuesday, March 18, 2014 at 12:51 PM.

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Updated at 5:22 p.m. with information, at 6:41 a.m. to correct Reed and Lee's titles.

Seventeen residents have been displaced by a fire that burned two apartments in Jacksonville this week.

According to Fire Marshal John Reed of the Jacksonville Fire Department and Emergency Operations, an emergency call came in at approximately 12:10 p.m. Tuesday to the Azalea Gardens Apartments on Gum Branch Road regarding two upstairs units that had fire coming out of the back windows. According to Spencer Lee, deputy chief of fire operations, the fire was wind-driven, which caused it to intensify.

The fire was put out approximately 20 minutes later. According to JPD Spokeswoman Beth Purcell, seven apartment units were damaged with four sustaining fire damage and three sustaining water damage. According to Reed, the residents in those units will be moved to vacant units within the apartment complex. No injuries were reported, and there were no major traffic concerns caused by the fire.

Timothy March, 50, a man who lives in one of the apartments affected by the fire, said the flames had been subdued by the time he arrived at the scene and said he was grateful no one was hurt.

“Things happen,” March said. “As long as no one got hurt.”

The Red Cross is helping those whose apartments were damaged by the fire by providing food, clothing and other supplies including diapers and baby formula, according to a release. Power had been shut off to the damaged building as a safety precaution, and residents living in those units will take temporary shelter at Living Home Community Church on Hargett Street.

Along with the JFD, the Half Moon and Pumpkin Center Volunteer Fire Departments along with the Jacksonville Police Department and Onslow County EMS were at the scene. Reed said the assistance was “top notch.”

Reed said the source, cause and financial extent of the damage were not immediately known.

The fire remains under investigation.

Christopher Thomas is a staff writer for the Daily News. To contact him, send an e-mail to christopher.thomas@jdnews.com.

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Updated at 4:28 p.m.

Seventeen occupants have been displaced by the two-alarm fire at the Azalea Gardens Apartments, according to information from Jacksonville Department of Public Safety.

“Firefighters found the structure to be heavily involved in fire upon arrival. The residential dwellings were being evacuated by property management when we arrived," said Spencer Lee, Deputy Chief of Fire Operations. “The fire was wind-driven, which intensified the fire.”

Seven units were damaged in the fire; four with fire damage and three with water damage.

“We were able to contain the fire, which started in a second floor apartment, to three adjacent units due to the quick actions of the fire fighters and the use of the ladder truck,” said Lee.

Units from Pumpkin Center VFD and Half Moon VFD responded to a request to mutual aid. There were no injuries in the fire and there is currently no power to the building. Damage estimates are pending.

The American Red Cross and the apartment complex’s property management is providing assistance to the displaced residents. The firefighters were able to rescue a cat during the response. The pet was returned safely to the residents.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the City Fire Marshal’s office.

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Updated at 1:39 p.m.

According to Chief John Reed, authorities received a call at 12:10 p.m. regarding the fire.

Two upstairs units had fire coming from the back. The blaze was put out by about 12:30 p.m.

There are no injuries and the residents in those units will be moved to vacant apartments in the same complex.

So far, there is not an estimate on the damage amounts or the cause of the blaze.

The fire remains under investigation.

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Updated at 1:19 p.m.

Public Safety spokeswoman Beth Purcell asks that motorists stay out of the area of Azalea Gardens Apartments, located at 902 Gum Branch Road, where officials responded to a fire shortly after noon.

“Firefighters found the fire at the structure heavily involved upon arrival. The residential dwellings were evacuated immediately,” Spencer Lee, Deputy Chief of Fire Operations, said via a news release.

Updated at 5:22 p.m. with information, at 6:41 a.m. to correct Reed and Lee's titles.

Seventeen residents have been displaced by a fire that burned two apartments in Jacksonville this week.

According to Fire Marshal John Reed of the Jacksonville Fire Department and Emergency Operations, an emergency call came in at approximately 12:10 p.m. Tuesday to the Azalea Gardens Apartments on Gum Branch Road regarding two upstairs units that had fire coming out of the back windows. According to Spencer Lee, deputy chief of fire operations, the fire was wind-driven, which caused it to intensify.

The fire was put out approximately 20 minutes later. According to JPD Spokeswoman Beth Purcell, seven apartment units were damaged with four sustaining fire damage and three sustaining water damage. According to Reed, the residents in those units will be moved to vacant units within the apartment complex. No injuries were reported, and there were no major traffic concerns caused by the fire.

Timothy March, 50, a man who lives in one of the apartments affected by the fire, said the flames had been subdued by the time he arrived at the scene and said he was grateful no one was hurt.

“Things happen,” March said. “As long as no one got hurt.”

The Red Cross is helping those whose apartments were damaged by the fire by providing food, clothing and other supplies including diapers and baby formula, according to a release. Power had been shut off to the damaged building as a safety precaution, and residents living in those units will take temporary shelter at Living Home Community Church on Hargett Street.

Along with the JFD, the Half Moon and Pumpkin Center Volunteer Fire Departments along with the Jacksonville Police Department and Onslow County EMS were at the scene. Reed said the assistance was “top notch.”

Reed said the source, cause and financial extent of the damage were not immediately known.

The fire remains under investigation.

Christopher Thomas is a staff writer for the Daily News. To contact him, send an e-mail to christopher.thomas@jdnews.com.

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Updated at 4:28 p.m.

Seventeen occupants have been displaced by the two-alarm fire at the Azalea Gardens Apartments, according to information from Jacksonville Department of Public Safety.

“Firefighters found the structure to be heavily involved in fire upon arrival. The residential dwellings were being evacuated by property management when we arrived," said Spencer Lee, Deputy Chief of Fire Operations. “The fire was wind-driven, which intensified the fire.”

Seven units were damaged in the fire; four with fire damage and three with water damage.

“We were able to contain the fire, which started in a second floor apartment, to three adjacent units due to the quick actions of the fire fighters and the use of the ladder truck,” said Lee.

Units from Pumpkin Center VFD and Half Moon VFD responded to a request to mutual aid. There were no injuries in the fire and there is currently no power to the building. Damage estimates are pending.

The American Red Cross and the apartment complex’s property management is providing assistance to the displaced residents. The firefighters were able to rescue a cat during the response. The pet was returned safely to the residents.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the City Fire Marshal’s office.

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Updated at 1:39 p.m.

According to Chief John Reed, authorities received a call at 12:10 p.m. regarding the fire.

Two upstairs units had fire coming from the back. The blaze was put out by about 12:30 p.m.

There are no injuries and the residents in those units will be moved to vacant apartments in the same complex.

So far, there is not an estimate on the damage amounts or the cause of the blaze.

The fire remains under investigation.

----

Updated at 1:19 p.m.

Public Safety spokeswoman Beth Purcell asks that motorists stay out of the area of Azalea Gardens Apartments, located at 902 Gum Branch Road, where officials responded to a fire shortly after noon.

“Firefighters found the fire at the structure heavily involved upon arrival. The residential dwellings were evacuated immediately,” Spencer Lee, Deputy Chief of Fire Operations, said via a news release.